UK Boxing
Anthony Joshua’s offer from the head of the UFC and what the boxing star immediately told Dana White
Anthony Joshua was previously approached by UFC supremo Dana White (Photo: Getty)
According to his promoter Eddie Hearn, Dana White has sensationally approached Anthony Joshua about the prospect of joining the UFC supremo’s boxing stable. The former heavyweight champion is close to returning to the ring for the first time since his December knockout victory over Jake Paul. Just days later, he was involved in a sedate car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends.
The tragic incident has complicated Joshua’s return to boxing, but he is believed to be preparing for two gigantic fights before the end of the year. He is expected to have a warm-up fight in the summer, likely against Deontay Wilder, before finally facing Tyson Fury in the fall.
Joshua has worked with Hearn throughout his professional career, but White became his target in an attempt to lure him away from his longtime promoter.
White, best known for his role as UFC president, ventured into boxing with his Zuffa brand last year and immediately made a splash by poaching Conor Benn from Hearn on a one-fight deal.
He also tried to sign Joshua, but the former Olympic champion was not interested in doing business, instead showing loyalty to Hearn.
During the performance in Talking about cigars podcast, a Matchroom promoter recalls: “About two deals ago, the media published an article… ‘AJ talks to Dana White.’ And I said, ‘What the hell?’
“So it’s in the paper, right. So I go to AJ, we have a media scandal, and I say, ‘What the hell?’ And he says, ‘Yeah, he called me out of the blue.’
“And I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘I told him right away. I told him I was with Eddie, but we had a nice conversation. We talked for about half an hour.’
“Because AJ likes to listen, I’m like, ‘What?’ And then, funnily enough, about six months later I went to Dana’s office and we had a meeting.
The Whites failed to extort Joshua from Matchroom (Photo: Getty)
“And I said, ‘Oh, I heard you talked to AJ.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, and you know something, he told me within the first five seconds to let you know that I’m not leaving Eddie. He’s my guy, but let’s talk.’ I respected that. I was like, ‘Fuck, wow.'”
Hearn added that Joshua’s loyalty had been tested several times over the years but he had not wavered despite being offered lucrative offers.
“After our contract expired, he was offered deals that were much better short-term financial options for him,” Hearn added.
“And when you looked at it, fur again, no panties. When you looked at the beginning, you thought, Wow.” But then you thought, “Oh, you have to do this, and it’s a five-year deal,” and blah, blah, blah.
“But he never even [was like]: “Let me look at it.” It was like, “No, no. I’m with Eddie, so whatever, but Eddie can look at it.”
“I have a lot of respect for him because… there are a few players, probably a few players, that I feel the same way about as AJ.
“Like in an empty room with one or two people, they will support you in conversation, you know what I mean? And in life, you know, there are not many people like that, that’s true, especially in a game like boxing.
“So I will always be grateful to him. Not only as a company because he helped us and is now a shareholder in my company, but also because of what he did for me and the company.”
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Tony Yoka has broken his silence on Lawrence Okolie’s failed test that canceled their scheduled heavyweight fight.
On Saturday in Paris, Yoka was scheduled to face Okolie in a fierce heavyweight fight.
But on Tuesday, the Briton failed a VADA test, reportedly for GHRP 2 and its metabolite M8, a synthetic substance that stimulates the body to release human growth hormone.
Promoter Frank Warren tried to find a slow replacement, but later canceled the entire show.
Yoka (33) admits that he was bitterly disappointed with the situation.
“I was disappointed because I wanted to fight,” said the 33-year-old talkSPORT.
“Of course I was ready.
“It’s not like it happened a few months before, it was three, four days before the fight.
“It was a great opportunity.
“It would have put me in a really good position, so it really worried me.
“What was more disappointing to me was that they just canceled the entire show, but I understand it’s a business.”
The Frenchman says he won’t wait too long and has been told he will either fight on the card Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois May 9 in Manchester or on the bill Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic on May 16 in Doncaster.
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Okolie, the WBC’s number one contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s title, promised in a statement to clear his name.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, after last year’s bicep injury, I suffered an elbow injury on the same shoulder during this camp.
“I underwent treatment and now we are here.
“I hope common sense will prevail.
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“I will of course cooperate fully with all relevant authorities and I am confident that any investigation will clear my name.
“I will not be making any further comments at this time.
“Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
The post “I Was Nervous” – Tony Yoka’s Reaction to Lawrence Okolie’s Failed Test appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
David Benavidez is already looking to the future ahead of next week’s showdown with Zurdo Ramirez.
Benavidez challenges Zurdo for his unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight world titles next Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
“The Mexican Monster” is moving up from lightweight heavyweight, where he holds the WBC crown, in a bid to become a three-division world champion.
An undisputed 175-pound title fight with Dmitry Bivol has so far eluded the undefeated 29-year-old, but he insists he will return to the weight class after the Ramirez fight in an attempt to lure Bivol to fight him.
“My plan wasn’t just to abandon the lightweight heavyweight division,” Benavidez said Ariel Helwani show.
“My plan was this [to] come up, win two titles, come back and make this fight with me and Bivol even bigger.
“My dream is to become unified champion.
“It would be wise for me to go back downstairs.”
Bivol, the holder of the remaining IBF, WBA and WBO belts, will defend his IBF title against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia.
The 35-year-old won the undisputed crown, among others revenge victory over Artur Beterbiev in his last appearance last February.
The Russian gave up the WBC belt, which Benavidez currently holds, in pursuit of a third meeting with Beterbiev, which ultimately did not take place.
Benavidez, who stopped Anthony Yarde in Riyad in November, is also hoping to fight former undisputed lightweight heavyweight champion Beterbiev, who hasn’t fought since his only professional loss to Bivol.
“After this fight [against Bivol] when I win the titles,” he added.
“I’m going to fight Beterbiev.
“I’m probably most excited about Beterbiev.
“These are two monsters heading on a collision course.
“Beterbiev was a bogeyman for a long, long, long time.
“Being the monster I am, I have to go in there and get rid of the bogeyman.”
The post David Benavidez Eyeing Two Names After Zurdo Ramirez appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Ryan Garcia insists he was not given a contract to fight Conor Benn, despite the Briton insisting he signed a contract for the fight.
Garcia and Benn are reportedly in talks for a welterweight world title clash in Las Vegas in August.
Benn is the number one contender for the American’s WBC crown, which he won by unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February.
On Wednesday, Benn publicly called on his rival to sign the end of the deal.
“Sign the contract @RyanGarcia,” the 29-year-old wrote X.
“King Ry” sharply criticized “The Destroyer”, claiming that he was not given a contract to sign.
The 27-year-old wrote further X: “If I actually had a contract, Conor, I would sign it as soon as one of these hands touches your jaw on fight night.”
Benn has not broken the 147-pound limit since 2022, although he has signaled his intention to return to welterweight, and his last fight was at 150 pounds.
The player from Ilford said goodbye to former two-time world champion, Regis Prograis unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this month.
Benn fought at middleweight in his two fights, then fought Prograis in two hard-fought matches against Chris Eubank Jr.
Prior to his victory over Porgrais, the 29-year-old controversially left former promotional team Matchroom to join Zuffa Boxing on a one-fight deal reportedly worth $15 million.
Benn resigned last week from the company formed by UFC president Dana White as part of a five-fight contract.
“I just signed a fresh multi-fight contract, which I am very joyful with,” he said.
“Our visions are consistent.
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If I actually had a contract, Conor, I would sign it as soon as one of those hands touched your jaw on fight night.
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) April 22, 2026
“Our goal remains the same, which is to win the world title, but more importantly, to give people the fight they want.
“Give people mega fights.”
The post Ryan Garcia denies receiving contract to fight Conor Benn appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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